Nick Broomfield's documentary looking at Leonard Cohen and his muse Marianne Ilhen is (unusually for Broomfield) a measured reflection on this relationship, while also exploring other key times, influences, places and indulgences that Cohen enjoyed, explored and experienced. I learned a great deal about this supremely talented, gifted, intelligent and often hilarious man, who I've loved and leaned on for decades.
Some highlighted flaws I found to be slightly, perhaps inevitably, disappointing upon discovery. But, can any genuinely substantial, interesting or worthy content be gained, trusted or learned from a one sided, gushing, sycophantic, Occums Broom approach? If anything, being unafraid to show the singer/songwriter's imperfections and occassional, uncomfortable selfishness, which contradicted the rather naive notions I've long applied to…